Flores Musicae 2023
Flores Musicae – Medieval and Renaissance Music Festival
In 2017, after six editions, the former festival entitled Days of Early Music, which succeeded the Court Music series, underwent a transformation and a revival. The festival, which takes place in Nova Gorica and in Goriška Brda, has been renamed to Flores Musicae, and Medieval music has been added to the existing Renaissance repertoire. Flores Musicae festival is the only ancient music festival in the western part of Slovenia and the only festival dedicated to medieval and Renaissance music in Slovenia.
Bor Zuljan – The artistic director of the festival Flores Musicae
The artistic director of the festival is the renowned Slovenian guitarist and lutenist Bor Zuljan, who completed his studies in guitar, lute, medieval music and music pedagogy at the Haute école de musique de Genève. The series of concerts of Slovenian and international musicians will illustrate the various traditions of the longest period in music history.
For the thirteenth year in a row, the Flores Musicae Festival will be enriched by a concert event in Gorizia in early autumn. This time, it will be fully dedicated to the viola da gamba, a wonderful stringed instrument with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages, which, like the lute, slowly passed into oblivion between the late 18th and early 19th century. The first time I saw it on TV, I was fascinated by this instrument, as I didn’t yet know about such historical performance practices: with an amazing sound, like some kind of cello with six strings and frets. For me, as a guitarist, it seemed to be the most perfect instrument. I later learned that, at the time, the viola da gamba was played by the Slovenian virtuoso Domen Marinčič who will also be performing, this time with his original instrument dating back to the 18th century in a duet with UK theorbist Sam Chapman and, in addition to well-known European composers, perform music by an unknown composer from Ljubljana from the late 17th century. Before them, an exceptionally talented young Italian gambist and singer named Giovanna Baviera will perform with a Renaissance music programme; she’s one of few who has completed the historical performing practice of self-accompaniment on the viola da gamba. The famous medieval band Sollazzo Ensemble under the direction of Anna Danilevskaia will present music from the 15th century played on the viola da gamba’s predecessor – the vielle or fidula. Nevertheless, as now habitual, the two concerts will move away from strictly historical performing practices and visit other music worlds. In the first one, we’ll be able to hear Marco Ambrosini, a virtuoso on the viola da gamba’s relative: the interesting viola a chiavi or nyckelharpa – in a quartet with Iranian musicians Haleh Seyfizadeh and Golf Khayam, and with me. Together, we’ll present a programme of new music between traditional Persian and old European traditions, between old and new, between the East and the West. The final concert will be provided by one of the most outstanding gambists of our time, the Italian Paolo Pandolfo, who will be in a trio with his brother trumpeter Andrea Pandolfo (who lives in the Gorizia area) and accordion player and pianist Michelangelo Rinaldi with his unique electro-acoustic viola da gamba to present a new music programme created under inspiration from French composer Erik Satie. Between composition and improvisation, between old and contemporary, classical music and jazz – the concert will show new paths of this wonderful, old and nearly forgotten instrument and prove that music has no boundaries.
In 2017, after six editions, the former festival entitled Days of Early Musicu, which succeeded the Court Music series, underwent a transformation and a revival. The festival, which takes place in Nova Gorica and in Goriška Brda, has been renamed to Flores Musicae, and Medieval music has been added to the existing Renaissance repertoire. Together in a friendly cross-border cooperation with the DRAMSAreM Centro Giuliano di Musica Antica, and with financial support from the Nova Gorica Municipality and the Ministry of Culture, we present interesting ensembles with innovative and fresh approaches to early music. The revival of early music during warm autumn days is thus a pleasant introduction to a new concert season. Masterclasses for lute, guitar, harp, harpsichord and singing, as well as other events are held alongside concerts. These events, which include free guided tours and food and wine tastings, promote the cultural heritage of the festival venues. The early music concerts united with the gems of our cultural heritage form a very special music experience.
This year’s edition of the festival will also include free guided tours of two pearls of Goriška cultural heritage. On Friday, a tour of the Renaissance Villa Vipolža in Goriška brda will take place, and on Saturday, as part of the celebration, the 550th anniversary of the first mention of the Church of St. Mihaela in Šmihel guided tour of restored frescoes inside the “small cathedral, as it is called by art historian Klavdija Figelj. The tour will take place before the concerts.
VILLA VIPOLŽE, GORIŠKA BRDA
Villa Vipolže, embraced by picturesque vines, has been through different makeovers during its history. It served initially as a hunters’ lodge of the Counts of Gorizia who used it for their summer vacations. Later, it was owned by the noblemen of the families Herberstein, Della Torre, Attems and Teuffenbach. In the 17th century, the Venetians renovated it into their summer residence. It then took the form of a rectangular villa with two towers at the corners and the Venetian decor. To this day, it remains surrounded by a magnificent park with a Baroque fountain.
ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH, ŠMIHEL
The Church of St. Michael in Šmihel is one of the architectural gems that will host this year’s festival edition. It is located in the parish of Šempas near Nova Gorica and is the oldest church in the parish. This is also reflected in the fact that churches dedicated to St. Michael were constructed as a symbol of Christian triumph over paganism. The original small church with no bell tower was built in the 15th century and has been rebuilt three times in its history. The bell tower and the sacristy were added in the 18th century. The Gothic chancel dates back to the 15th century. It is decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the Bible, saints and symbols. They were restored between 1906 and 1909. In 1962, the frescoes were copied and are now kept in the National Gallery in Ljubljana. The Baroque marble and stone altar decorated with the coat-of-arms at the top was later added. In the alcove behind the altar is the statue of Saint Michael dating back to the 15th century, a work of the Friulian “Tolmezzo school”. Saint Michael holds a sword in one hand, a symbol of an army leader, which he used to defeat Satan that lies at his feet. In his other hand, he holds a pair of scales in which he weighs the souls in the name of God, judging whether they are worthy of heaven or not.
Barbara Poša Belingar
Public relations, organization and
coordination of cultural programs
T: 05 335 40
E: pr@kulturnidomng.si
Box Office
T: 05 335 40 16
E: blagajna@kulturnidom-ng.si
